NFRC RoofCERT ROOFING ACCREDITATION

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UK roofers are among the best in the world but unqualified and inexperienced rogue traders too often give everyone else a bad name. It’s therefore time to elevate the pride and professionalism of individual roofers who do the right thing, by giving them the proof that they can roof.

This is where RoofCERT comes in. Managed by NFRC, it is the UK’s only national roofing accreditation scheme that gives clients and homeowners the confidence that the people working on their roofs can do the job properly.  The NFRC, with support from across the industry, will help existing operatives entering the scheme to demonstrate their technical knowledge and essential skills, enabling them to establish a lifelong career path and prove their competence to employers and client.

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• provides individual roofers with visible proof of their essential roofing skills

• reinforces the pride of skilled roofers, who’ve worked hard to get where they are

• confirms that a business employs fully-qualified roofing operatives, who can do the job safely and properly

• helps homeowners avoid the cowboys, by recognising the professionals

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The SWRTG can help even if you don't currently have the requirements. 

To become RoofCERT accredited, you will need to have over 3 years of experience in the roofing sector and you have successfully completed the following course and NVQ:

• asbestos awareness

• abrasive wheels

• manual handlingworking at height

• fire safety

• emergency first aid

• roofing NVQ/SVQ

The next step would be the knowledge test which is taken on a laptop/tablet.

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If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please contact Nichola for further details.  The RoofCERT accreditation process is currently free!

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Interested in becoming RoofCERT accredited?

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SKILLS & TRAINING FUND FROM CITB

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The Skills and Training fund helps aims to help construction companies of all sizes facilitate high quality learning and development experiences for its employees and self employed workers. It also provides an extra incentive to access CITB grant eligible training.

You can apply for up to £10,000 to cover the cost of your training needs if your company has between 1 and 100 employees.  This money can be used to fund lead welding and bossing, NVQs, PASMA, IPAF, Scaffold appreciation and more... almost any CITB grant eligible training you need! 

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• WHO CAN APPLY? CITB reg companies with up to 99 employees

• PROJECT LENGTH? Projects should last no longer than 18 months

• AMOUNTS AVAILABLE

• Up to £5000 for employers with up to 49 employees

• Up to £7500 for employers with 50-74 employees

• Up to £10,000 for employers up to 75-99 employees

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The SWRTG has had many successful applications, so if you need additional information or would like us to fill in the application form, please get in contact.

Email gto@swrtg.co.uk or call 0752 5120958

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A KNIGHT ON THE TILES, Tom Knight talking about Redland Apprentice of the year
Since featuring on the very first front cover of the Redland magazine, Tom Knight – Highly Commended in the BMI Apprentice of the Year 2017 – has continued to have great success in his roofing career. 

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“What I remember most about the competition is the Q&A sessions”, says Tom, recalling his success in the 2017 Apprentice of the Year. “It was a great chance to talk to trusted people in roofing – like Andy King (of A L King Roofing and then president of the NFRC), Simon Dixon and Gary Walpole (both also from the NFRC). They’ve had fantastic experience and expertise to share which has really helped guide me in my roofing career”.  It wasn’t the only stand out part of the experience for Tom. “The section on estimating was brilliant. It’s been a real help to me when it comes to quoting. The fault-finding session was also great, especially when it comes to repair jobs and when you’re the one that has to identify the issues. It’s been really useful indeed.”

Prior to entering the roofing industry, Tom was a chef after leaving college. But the pay and long, anti-social hours meant it wasn’t for him. Having been offered a labouring job in roofing, Tom found himself enjoying the work and with a knack for the trade.  Consequently, his employer supported Tom in his career and provided him with the opportunity for an apprenticeship and to become a skilled worker. It was an opportunity he seized with both hands and –  following his training on the job and with Alan Lander of RoofTrain in Exeter via the South West Roofing Training Group's, Specialist Applied Skills Programme – his talent blossomed, winning South West SkillBuild as well as placing highly in the BMI competition.

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Having qualified as a roofer and after spending some years honing his skills with his employer, Tom found himself with the opportunity to broaden his skills and work with close family. “I’d have happily stayed for another 10 years”, says Tom, “but a change in circumstances and being able to work with family resulted in what I’m doing now”.

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Initially Tom worked with his builder uncle, which broadened his skills and experience and allowed him to build up his own tool bank. He then teamed up with his dad on roofing which was a really positive time – it was “massive”, Tom recalls. 

Following his father’s final retirement (he’d tried before!), Tom took the opportunity to start his own business, with a newly financed van and help in the shape of mate Jack Newton – himself a national SkillBuild finalist in 2015 – and his roofing and property maintenance company was born.

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Once again, another key skill Tom picked up during the BMI competition came to the fore. “I am really conscious of the need for marketing, and it’s something we work hard at,” says Tom. “I’m proud of our website and promote our business through Yell. It’s our main review platform, and we get a lot of work out of it.”

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Tom’s not wrong: his is the most, and best, reviewed business in his category in the Truro area and dozens of former customers aren’t shy in singing his praises. “It’s also very motivational. When jobs aren’t going well or there are other problems, like Covid, it’s a booster to drop onto the site and read the reviews. We also make sure any Google reviews feed into to it as well, so we’re covered all ways.”

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This superb word-of-mouth and engaged approach to marketing means that Tom has six months of work booked ahead of him. Current goals then are to maintain the business at a consistent level post-pandemic – and get to New Zealand.

Tom was married in 2018, and the big dream was to travel to New Zealand in 2020 so his wife Kioni could meet up with her NZ relatives for the first time. “We had the tickets and everything – and then Covid came along. At least we got our money back, and at least we’ve been able to work outdoors ever since the lockdowns, which was a result.”

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In summarising his thoughts about the BMI Apprentice of the Year competition, Tom says, “We all got a lot out of the competition, which was more like a two-day course. It really boosted my confidence, and I learnt a lot from the knowledge sharing. I’d recommend entering to anyone”.

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Apprentice of the year 2021

This year’s competition – following a break in 2020 owing to Covid – opened September 1st 2021 and welcomes all those recognised as an apprentice by their employer, or those working towards qualified status. Closing date for entries is October 1st.

Entrants selected for the final, which takes place on the 17th and 18th November at the BMI Academy in Gloucestershire, will receive coaching on a range of topics including presentation skills, health and safety, estimating and making technical assessments. 

INDUSTRY ACCREDITATION WITHDRAWAL

All industry accredited (grandfather rights) cards renewed from 1st January 2020 will expire on 31st December 2024 and will not be renewed and CSCS will cease renewing industry accredited cards from 30th June 2024.

What you need to do now depends on your occupation and any construction related qualifications you may already hold. Those without qualifications will be required to register for the appropriate qualification for their occupation before their cards

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We are grateful to the following companies for their continued support. You can find out more about them by visiting their websites by clicking on their logo below.

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